My Dads time at Sea

[Elizabeth Copp]

I agree totally that we are told only what the high heid yins want us to know., which is why I have become very cynical about 'The News' as I get older. Terrible things are still happening in Afghanistan and Syria but we no longer hear about them on the main news channels. MP's expenses - or some other subect - is deemed more newsworthy (for the moment). In defence of Jack Ballo's film he asked for donations to fund it and, to the best of my knowledge, isn't looking to make a profit. There are good people out there! We humans aren't completely awful!! (And gardening helps if you need to be cheered up, Thomas, oops JS!!)��

[happy daze john in oz]

With the majority of things that come under the control of the gov of the day.
We will only be told what the gov thinks will give them a boost in the polls.
It may not even be the full story or the complete truth but it is what they think we want or need to know.

Then the media add to kit so the whole thing becomes one total mess.

[Elizabeth Copp]

Hello all, you may remember that I got in touch with you last September to see if anyone knew of anyone who had died on the Rohna, which was bombed in November 1943 with a huge loss of life. My dad was a radio officer with the Merchant Navy and served on the Rohna and other ships. A film is being made about the bombing and will be brought out next year in time for the 80th anniversary of the sinking. I now have a list of names of men who served in the Merchant Navy and who were on the ship at the time. It's a very long shot, but I wonder if you might know of families of these men? Ann Good, who is the link with the film maker, would be pleased to meet more family members of the men on board. Thank you!

Rohna Crew - Fate Unknown
Name Survivor or Casualty Comments

1. Chief Engineer
A. PORTER - age 49
born in Dumbarton
born 1894: possible service # D/37840; additional regiment KOSB
OR born 1893: possible service # T/48572 or 5819241
2. Third Engineer
M. E. SMITH - age 31
born in Hartlepool
3. Fourth Engineer
John J. BUTLER probably survivor age 25, born 1918 in Northampton
reference BT 395/1/13321, discharge R239462
record of medal issued to Merchant Seamen
4. Junior Engineer
J. FRAME - age 23
born in Glasgow
5. Junior Engineer
J. J. RITCHIE (?) - age 24
born in Paisley
6. No 2 Radio Officer
R. J. KIMBERLEY - age 21
born in Coventry
7. Deck Hand
W. H. FLINDERS(?) - age 24
born in Sheffield
8. Deck Hand
T. BRADY - age 27
born in Durham
9. Deck Hand
J. ANDREWS - age 22
born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
10. Hospital Orderly
G. O. SEBILLE - age 27
?
11. Junior Engineer
D. D. KEITH - age 30
born in Stockton-on-Tees
12. Duncan WALWORTH - age 30
born in Burton-on-Trent
13. Deck Hand
? TASSELL - age 29
born in Edinburgh
14. Engineer
? BRUES - age 29
born in Banffshire
15. Junior Engineer
J. GOLDING - age 21
born in Liverpool
16. Hospital Orderly
G. WEST - age 39
born in Surrey
17. Second Mate
A. DUNCAN - age 29
born in Edinburgh?
18. Third ?
B. AINE ROSE - age 21
born in Hull
19.
N.S. BROOKFIELD - age 31
born in Swindon
20
I. E. Hall - age 21
born in Hull
21.
J. M. SIM - age 25
born in Aberdeen
22. Junior Engineer
N. GREEN - age 25
born in Yangoo (Burma?)

[Elizabeth Copp]

Hello all, I'm very grateful for the help you gave me 2 years ago when I wrote about my dad on HMT Rohna which was sunk in November 1943. I'm going to go to Kew in a few weeks time to look at his records when he was in the Merchant Navy and I would be grateful for any tips you can give me for this visit.

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Elizabeth
Thanks for the update good stuff to know!
Now you ask about info on going to the NA. What other info do you aim on getting there?
As this is just snippets from other Posts already gone into.

Yes, it's Sclater. I have his Continuous Certificate of Discharge. His number is R255916. Thank you for looking into this.

R255916 SLATER J C 28/08/1921 ORKNEY | The National Archives

The Actual Book of Discharge is virtually like the CRS10 but sometimes will contain more info.
Then there is the Voyage Records Cards which will give you the Ports visited, this is a seperate Item available from the Guildhall Library London. At the VRC Section.

Forgot to mention that the Crew Lists if that is also one of your aims (Not sure) but you can get a lot of the Crew Lists from either the National Archives as i have shown, or as well there is the Archives in Newfoundland Canada

So now all you need is the CRS10 which will hold all his Seatime Service with his Ships , Official Numbers Listed.
Cheers

His CRS10 Should be in this following Series, when looking at the NA. Please take his Seamans Pouch Reference (NOT Dis.Number ) for help in case!

Slater H T to Slattie G A | The National Archives

[Elizabeth Copp]

Thank you. This is very helpful. I'm not interested in crew lists but would like to find out which ports my dad went to. So I need to go to the Guildhall Library as well. Hope I can fit all this in to a short visit to London!

[Doc Vernon]

I am sure you will find the time , as its possibly a one off, make plans good and proper LOL
You will get all you are seeking with the help of the Staff at both places i know, just ask and they will help!
Cheers

Good Hunting!!!